Safety Rules for the Québec Film and Video
Industry
Written by the Technical Committee of the film and video industry’s joint
sector-based working group and produced by the Commission de la santé
et de la sécurité du travail du Québec.
Animal handling
1. Because of their unexpected reactions, animals can
endanger the health and safety of people nearby.
Whenever filming or recording requires animals, the
producer must hire an animal coordinator and,
depending on the case, experienced animal handlers
and trainers familiar with handling the species present.
2. The animal coordinator must:
• be familiar with the animals that he is supervising;
• assume responsibility for them;
• inspect all the equipment used;
• ensure that the people hired to work with animals
off and on camera are competent, and give his
approval before they are hired;
• evaluate the skills of the performers who will be in
contact with the animals, and if need be, give them
the necessary training so that they can work safely.
3. When animals and performers work together in a
scene, the animal coordinator and the animal handler
or trainer must have sufficient time to prepare the
scene with them.
4. When an animal is uncomfortable, whether injured
by a prop or made sick by a dye, it could behave
dangerously. The animal coordinator must therefore
have at least 48 hours before the start of filming or
recording to check the accessories and costumes, as
well as the equipment used for filming or recording
scenes with animals. For example, the following must
be used:
• accessories and costumes that are in good condi-
tion and comfortable and that do not hinder
movement or respiration;
• non-toxic dyes or cosmetics;
• harnesses only on animals used to wearing them;
• breakaway glass (and not tempered glass) and
accessories (spears, barbed wire, fences) of rubber
or balsa wood free of nails, splinters and wire.
5. The call sheet must include a note warning the pro-
duction crew whenever the scene to be filmed or
recorded requires the use of animals (e.g., “There will
be animals on the set today. Obtain the approval of
the animal coordinator before petting or playing with
them. Do not run, and stay away from wild and
exotic animals, do not feed them, etc.”).
La version française de cette fiche peut être consultée et imprimée à partir du site www.csst.qc.ca/cinema_video.
Guideline 15
2nd edition
6. If the animal coordinator considers it necessary during
filming or recording, a “closed set” notice must be
posted, meaning that only essential personnel are
allowed on the set when animals are present.
7. The animal coordinator and the first assistant director
must inform the members of the production crew as
well as the parents or guardians of children partici-
pating in the filming or recording, if applicable,
about the precautions to be taken in the presence of
the animals.
8. A first aid attendant must be on the set when the
animals involved in the scene present certain risks.
Stunts or scenes that could be dangerous and that
involve animals must be filmed or recorded under the
supervision of the animal coordinator and prepared
with his collaboration. A veterinarian who can care for
the species used for filming or recording must be
near the work site and available in case of emergency.
9. The animal coordinator is responsible for obtaining all
necessary inoculations, permits, licenses and transport
permits, etc. Any sick, injured or disabled animal must
be isolated from the others and cared for immediately.
It cannot be returned to the set until a veterinarian
has supplied a certificate indicating that the animal is
healthy. The animal coordinator must give a copy of
all the above-mentioned documents to the safety
coordinator.
10. To prevent injuries and accidents in scenes involving
fire, the fire must be controlled and the animals must
be properly prepared. If necessary, the animals’ fur,
tails or coats must be treated with a fire-resistant or
inflammable solution or sprayed with water (pay
particular attention to sheep).
11. If the animals must swim, their endurance must be
taken into consideration. The animal coordinator and
the safety coordinator must determine the best way
to ensure the safety of the members of the production
crew and the animals. For example, they may decide
to attach the animals to a cable if the current is
strong. (See guideline 24 on Work on or near water.)
12. Hobbles, steel cables or trenches must never be used
to cause an animal, such as a horse, to fall. The rider
or other members of the production crew could be
injured.
DC 400-1364-15A.pdf
 Safety Rules for the Québec Film and Video Industry
13. When a large number of animals have to be moved,
particular vigilance is necessary to avoid panic move-
ments or stampeding animals.
14. A sufficient quantity of cable mats must be available
to cover the electrical wires in areas where animals
will pass.
15. At least two people must be ready to take action to
control large animals such as cats and other carni-
vores the size of a mountain lion or larger.
Use of pyrotechnics and firearms
16. Before firearms are fired or explosives used, the animal
coordinator and the armourer (see guideline 17) or
blaster (see guideline 16) must consult together,
because animals can react unexpectedly and cause
accidents. The safety coordinator must also be kept
informed about the planned activities.
17. Quarter-load ammunition should preferably be used
near animals. Cotton or cotton batting must be
available to put in the animals’ ears when gunfire,
explosions or other violent noises are planned.
18. Only pyrotechnics containing a minimum quantity of
powder must be used; they must not be placed too
close to the animals in order to avoid frightening
them and thus causing accidents.
19. The animal coordinator, animal trainer, animal owner
and, if need be, the representative from the animal
protection organization, must inspect the land on the
set for holes, roots, stones and other things that
could cause accidents. If necessary, the bottom of
streams must be cleared and low branches removed.
20. Hitch rails for animals must be solidly embedded in
the ground. Scenery and props must also be solidly
secured, with specific attention to ladders, columns,
etc., which can easily fall.
Horses
The following rules are to protect the rider as well as his
mount and the people nearby.
21. Depending on the scenes to be filmed or recorded, a
sufficient number of wranglers must be available to
control the horses.
22. Horses must be examined daily for injury or lameness.
23. Only stunt performers specialized in equestrian stunts
may perform stunts with horses, and the rider and
horse must be chosen according to the type of stunt
to be performed. For example, for falls, sliding, riding
on slopes, or stirrup drags, a horse trained specially
for this purpose must be chosen. As needed, horses
must wear protective boots or skip boots.
La version française de cette fiche peut être consultée et imprimée à partir du site www.csst.qc.ca/cinema_video.
Written by the Technical Committee of the film and video industry’s joint
sector-based working group and produced by the Commission de la santé
et de la sécurité du travail du Québec.
2nd edition
Guideline 15
24. When the rider and his horse must perform a fall, the
ground must be broken up or softened by spreading
5 m3 of sand on it. The area for the fall must be at
least 5 m by 5 m, and 50 cm deep. It must be filled
with sand, and all stones, lumps or roots must be
removed. In some cases, turning the soil in the area
of the fall is all that is necessary. Falls or jumps into
water must be done from a height of not more than
3.5 m.
25. To avoid falls, in particular, horses must wear shoes
that are appropriate for their breed and for the land
on which they will be working. For example, horses
on cement or asphalt must wear shoes with borium
studs.
26. Traveling through very deep mud and quicksand
should be avoided. The use of wires and steel cables
must also be avoided.
27. For fast pursuit or racing scenes, a sufficient number
of replacement animals must be available.
28. For chases along railway tracks, the land must be well
prepared, particularly by spreading sand or earth
along the tracks or between the rails.
29. For scenes with stampeding herds, runaway horses
and vehicle disintegration (cars, carriages, etc.), there
must be a sufficient number of riders off camera to
slow or control the animals. In the case of vehicle
disintegration, the animals must be freed before the
vehicle breaks up.
30. The tops of obstacles (fences, walls, etc.) over which
horses jump must be clear or made of precut balsa
wood.
31. When filming or recording is done in a studio, antislip
carpets must be installed on the ground or skip boots
put on the horses, and a surface must be provided
on which the latter can move safely around the set
(for example, where horses must pass, cover electric
wires with cable mats or secure the wires overhead).
32. Spurs may be used only by equestrian specialists with
the approval of the animal coordinator and the trainer.
Snakes
33. To avoid accidents and injuries when snakes and other
animals are used in the same scene, the animals must
be familiar with one another.
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 Safety Rules for the Québec Film and Video Industry
34. Non-venomous snakes should preferably be used.
Otherwise, take the following safety precautions:
• Inform the safety coordinator two weeks in
advance so that he can inform the hospital nearest
the filming or recordng site and obtain sufficient
antidote for at least three people for the venom of
the species used;
• On the day of filming or recording, the snake
must be “milked” so that it contains the least pos-
sible amount of venom; write on the call sheet the
location of the antidote and indicate that the set
will be “closed”. Only the smallest possible crew
may be present on a set containing snakes. These
individuals must have the appropriate safety
equipment: gloves, leggings, etc.;
• During filming or recording, keep the antidote
within reach and make sure that there is a first aid
attendant on the set who can give injections; keep
a CO2 extinguisher on the set that can be used to
slow the snakes’ metabolism and immobilize
them, if necessary;
• If someone is bitten by a snake, administer the
antidote and take the victim immediately to the
nearest hospital.
Care of animals
The better the animals are treated, the less dangerous
they are for the people nearby. Here are a few rules to
be followed to maintain a good disposition and to avoid
unfortunate accidents that could result from improper
treatment, fatigue, fear, etc.
1. Animals must not be injured or mistreated, and
sedatives must not be used for a scene. Also, a gestating
animal must not be used for an action scene.
2. Animals must be transported in well-ventilated vehicles.
The safety coordinator must determine, with the
animal coordinator, the rest time necessary for the
animals after transportation, before they begin working.
Animals that have not yet been weaned must be
transported with their mothers. Also, an easily acces-
sible zone must be provided for animal loading and
unloading.
La version française de cette fiche peut être consultée et imprimée à partir du site www.csst.qc.ca/cinema_video.
Written by the Technical Committee of the film and video industry’s joint
sector-based working group and produced by the Commission de la santé
et de la sécurité du travail du Québec.
2nd edition
Guideline 15
35. Where possible, avoid stitching the mouths of ven-
omous snakes shut. Other stratagems can be used for
filming or recording, such as a glass or plastic barrier,
fake animals, or using people familiar with handling
snakes as stunt doubles. However, if the mouths of
snakes must be stitched shut, this operation must be
done under local anesthetic by a professional
approved by the animal coordinator. When the
stitches are removed, topical antibiotics must be
applied.
Reference
Guideline 24 on Work on or near water.
Note. – The information contained in this guideline is
not exhaustive and does not replace current standards,
laws and regulations.
Guideline 15 • Appendix
3. When installing animal holding areas, take into account
the climatic conditions of the animals’ place of origin as
well as their age. Holding areas must be comfortable. If
there are several different species, provide separate
holding areas.
4. Every day during filming or recording, provide adequate
exercise and rest periods. Make sure that the animals
do not become overheated to the point of discomfort.
Provide sufficient water and shade, protection from
the cold, rain, etc., and make sure that the set is not
contaminated, particularly with pesticides.
5. If filming or recording includes a scene with a real or
simulated sandstorm, thunderstorm or blizzard, pay
particular attention to the animals’ eyes.
DC 400-1364-15A.pdf